Needless to say, I'm quite excited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 13th-16th! The GBBC is a joint project of Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
My yard has been a haven for wildlife, especially the birds, for the past several years. I have a lot of trees and bushes, an array of plants and flowers that attract birds, butterflies and bees. I provide a variety of foods, to include hulled sunflower seed, black-oil sunflower seed (with hulls), safflower seed, several kinds of suet and occasionally some peanuts or other nutty treats.
I provide nesting boxes, meant for bluebirds, but used mainly by the tufted titmice (which I just realized aren't pictured above!). I'll have to do something about that in an upcoming post! The bluebirds fly somewhere else in my neighborhood to nest. Yet, I noticed last spring that they have come back with their babies (black and white!) to my feeder! Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of that:(
The other thing that keeps my birds coming back is the water that I provide them at all times of the year. In the winter, especially, it's so important for them to have fresh water. This is the time that I see larger numbers and varieties of birds in my yard, and they all use my heated bird bath on a daily basis. It's really a wonderful addition to the yard when temperatures are in the freezing range. I don't think any of my neighbors provide water so the birds all know that my place is 'the place' to hang out!
--I am thankful that my yard is a haven for birds, for my large kitchen window, and for the Nikon D40x given to me by hubby on my birthday last year.
I've never seen a cardinal in real life - but when I see photos of them, they always seem such characterful birds.
ReplyDeleteDo they sing or cheep?
Lucy
Oh my ... are all taken from your own garden. Marvellous. Beautiful. I wish I have them here, too!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!!! Great job with the camera!!
ReplyDeleteJan, I love seeing the birds that are visiting your yard. What a great collage! Lots of lovely photos there. How lucky you are to have seen a pileated woodpecker! Does he come often? Others we don't see...bluebird, wren and mockingbird, but I did catch a quick glimpse of the last as it landed for an instant on the porch recently.
ReplyDeleteWow! A bunch of lovely visitors. I've never seen the bluebird with the others before, they are quite happy drinking that water.
ReplyDeleteWonderful guests you have there!
ReplyDeleteYour photography is always perfect, too.
Cameron
Great job Jan on the rows/ columns! Love the birds too.
ReplyDeleteJanet
absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThese birds are absolutely gorgeous -- how lucky that you have this "live" every day. What do you use to attract all of these birds? How many feeders do you have? Any special plants?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can come to my house and help build a bird sanctuary?! :)
Thanks for identifying those birds! Some of them I knew, but for most I never knew their names. I love your pictrue with the 4 birds on it. Great!
ReplyDeleteI just love looking at your pictures (and listening to your music). From where I sit right now, there's a huge pile of snow in the back yard, but I do have birds hanging out on the lilac tree, and you are helping me identify what they are.
ReplyDeleteI just love the collage! Looks really good, Jan! Well the poor bird with the mites needs some help though- poor thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan~
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have such a large variety of birds visiting your garden daily! I've never heard of a birdbath, it must be delightful for the birds during winter. The bird count sounds interesting, I wonder what the final count will be.
Happy day~
Karrita
It wonderful you've provided such a haven for the birds Jan. I just bought a heater for my birdbath last winter and it made such a difference in the activity level in my yard. I had overlooked how important water was for them until then and I don't know why? What a great investment. Now I encourage everyone to get one too. Beautiful collage of your feathered visitors.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky. I'll be looking forward to your bird count. I'm trying the bird count too this year, but don't know if I'll get nearly as many varieties as you. You must have one clean window to get such clear pictures :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful assortment of feathered friends you have visiting your garden right now Jan! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, Jan!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful array of birds. So handy that you can take pictures out of your kitchen window. I've never heard of a heated bird bath but I can see how useful it would be if you get freezing conditions over a long period.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see birds whose names I have read about but never seen.
Jan you have so many colourful birds visiting you ! You are taking some amazing pictures of them too. We get the gorgeous Goldfinches in mid April .. they are visitors we always look forward to .. that shining gold is a real eye catcher .. yours would be quite a thrill to see : )
ReplyDeleteI see the titmice (titmouse(?) in my yard. But don't know if they have a nest here. I love all your photos. Aren't the birds wonderful to watch out the window?
ReplyDeleteBrenda
happy sunday jan
ReplyDeletelook at all those beautiful little birdies :)
i think i will invest in a heating element and add it to my little bird basin...maybe i will see more than crows and finches :)
always a joy to see the many visitors that frequent your yard.
erin
Jan, what wonderful pictures and what a good person you are taking care of all those birds. I enjoyed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are!
ReplyDeleteTo have all these colourful birds around must be fantastic.
Today I've been sitting for hours looking out of the window. Waiting for some birds to arrive on my newly filled feeder. The only one I was able to spot was a raven.. But I know they're here, I heard them!
Good luck with the counting :)
Hilde
You've got a great variety of birds! I need to get some bluebird houses up to encourage some to nest here. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else who said the cardinal picture is perfect... We have Pileated Woodpeckers here too. They are amazing birds aren't they?
ReplyDeleteJan, You always take the best photographs. "Your" birds look so happy.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful variety of birds visiting your yard, Jan. What is the bluebird eating?
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I so agree about the water. In spring and summer, I sometimes feel I'm just the maid whose job it is to keep the different bird baths filled ;->
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! We're all thankful for you...
Robin, the bluebirds always tilt their heads back after they take a sip of water. I guess it's their way of swallowing. I haven't done any research on it, but I think they're the only ones who do that, at least from what I've seen here.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you kind bloggers for such wonderful comments:)
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice questions other than Robin's...but Lucy asked about sounds they make-yes, they do sing but I would need to do a bit of research to describe exactly what that sounds like! And Kerri, the pileated woodpeckers stop by fairly frequently, especially in the winter, when food supplies aren't as easily available. I don't always manage to get photos, though.
For bird habits and info, check out the GBBC link. Almost any question you have can be answered there somewhere, or you'll be given suggestions on how to find what you are looking for:)
Your collages turned out great! Did you do that somewhere in Blogger? I was in blotanical, and had to view from another window in order to see the whole collage. At first, I thought you had cut off part of a bird.
ReplyDeleteWe just got some safflower seeds, because we were told squirrels don't eat them, and doves do. Now, we need to get them out in the feeder.
Yes, the squirrels don't eat the safflower seeds. And another nice thing about them: they don't tend to grow sprouts when they fall out of the feeders:)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great pleasure and treat to watch your bird photos, Jan. It's nice that you do care for them and love them. Hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteJan, Your backyard is certainly a haven for birds--what a lovely variety! I especially like the photo of the four different birds drinking water--there is harmony in nature in your garden as well.
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteYou always capture the most stunning photos of birds! And, you have such a wide variety!--Randy
What a wonderful group you have around the feeder. I never get bluebirds but I've resigned myself to that. Too many sparrows. I'm looking forward to the bird count.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Helou there!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the visit on my blog...even if you did´nt wanna buy any snow :) Maybe I should put it on ebay, what do you think...for the highest bidder..yeeeh.
I love your blog, I will for sure come here and visit you again.
Take care, and say hello to the lovely birds from a finnish girl with lots of snow :)
Wow you have an incredible array off birds in your area, you are so lucky.
ReplyDeleteI had no respons om my blogg (blogspot) with Pay it forwad so I will have it on http://mariaberg.tradgardsblogg.se/28108/ also,
ReplyDeleteI love to see your birds. MB
I enjoyed seeing your backyard birds this afternoon. It is always a delight to see them at the feeders.
ReplyDeleteI also do the backyard bird count every year. It is fun!
Soon the bees and the butterflies will return. I miss them in the winter.
Thank you for a fun bird time.
Namaste,
Sherry
You know, I've never seen a bluebird or mockingbird in real life! Thanks for the photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic variety of birds you have. Sounds like you have a certified wildlife habitat. If you haven't done so already, you should check out the Nat'l Wildlife Federation's program: http://www.nwf.org/backyard/. I'll be participating in the GBBC along with you and hopefully many others! btw, I think I need to move my feeders closer to my windows. :-)
ReplyDeleteHello pretty little birdies! They must know you'll capture them in the best light - especially love the cardinal...
ReplyDeleteWow! Bluebirds with goldfinches! You are lucky! Aren't they all so entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThey are all such gorgeous beauties!
ReplyDeleteThey obviously know that they have a wonderful place - your garden - to hang out, where they are assured of tender care, affection...and warm water:-)
WOW...I can't believe you can see so many through your kitchen window...and that your window is so very clean!!!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire me to put out some feeders. I'm going to have to do a little research and see what bird in W. Washington like!!!
Thanks for the inspriration...you have a yard full of very lucky birds! Kim
what beautiful birds. I need to start paying more attention to my backyard birds. I saw a bunch of eastern blue birds a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving that great comment on my blog. I always have to tell myself "i have time."
Firstly, you must have very clean windows! ;) Your bird pictures are wonderful and how lucky you are to have such a variety of visitors! I see some familiar fellows, but some are birds we never see. So thanks for sharing your view today!
ReplyDeleteThe birds are happy that you are happy :) I think it's a lot of work to take care of these birds and quite a commitment. They depend on you. How many birds do you think you'll see for the bird count?
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea to heat water for the birds. Must try it next winter to see if I can get moore different kinds of birds to come by.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see all your feathered friends - read about the mites as well - glad it's one of those things that looks far worse than it is.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely birds you have there. Real nice to see / gittan
ReplyDeleteHello my blogging friends, I am honored by every visit and I thank you all. I try to visit you in person but if I haven't, please accept my apologies. I do enjoy meeting you and thank you so much for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Jan, you are so tallented, I don't know how you do it. Most of these birds your showing we do not have in our gardens and they look so very exotic to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteLovely post.
Tyra
That bluebird is too cool for words. I've never seen one in person. You've done a really good job of capturing them with your camera. The colors are spectacular.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jan, LOVING all those birds. What a feast for the heart and soul (as well as the eyes!). Looks like mutual love. They must be so appreciative of what you have to offer. I also had never heard of the warm bird bath but I'm intrigued and will check into that!
ReplyDeleteI have sparrows, pigeons, New Zealand Silver eye birds, and I get engrossed looking at them eat the bread I throw out to them. You are much loved to be presented a good camera by your hubby.
ReplyDeleteOk, you have me intrigued now. I never thought about a heated bird bath, but anything that will bring bluebirds close to the house would be worthwhile. I've been amazed about how changing the bird seed and adding suet feeders has extended the variety of feathered visitors. And then there was the Hawk that stopped by this week...
ReplyDelete